Tom Riddle's Origins

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 84197

Geoff wrote:
<snip>
> Tom has just revealed to Harry that he is Lord Voldemort. 
> He could have said no more. But he goes on and I suspect 
> his anger is beginning to come out...
<snip>
> 
> "I, keep the name of a foul, common Muggle who abandoned me even 
> before I was born, just because he found out his wife was a witch? 
> No, Harry, I fashioned myself a new name, a name I knew wizards 
> everywhere would one day fear to speak..."
> 
> He didn't have to say the first sentence above. The point about his 
> father being a Muggle had already been made. He could have gone 
> straight on to the last sentence above. If he was lying about his 
> parents being married, why bother to tell Harry when it wasn't his 
> intention that Harry was going to walk out of the Chamber alive? 
> Harry knows no other than what he has been told.


I agree, but I think two additional points can be made. One, CS is,
after all, primarily a children's book and Rowling is unlikely to
introduce an illegitimate birth. Marriage before pregnancy can simply
be taken for granted in these books. More important, Tom Riddle would
not have his father's muggle last name if his parents hadn't been
married. His last name would have been his (witch) mother's. And,
wretch that he is, Tom would probably have been happier.

Carol